Fire Archives

Problem Solvers: Homeless in the Pines, encampments growing in the woods of La Pine

May 2, 2025 1:46 pm KTVZ

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ)– Just outside the city limits of La Pine, in the dense forest that surrounds the community, you won’t find wild animals…

Escaped debris burns on the rise around Central Oregon in recent weeks, can cause costly wildfires

May 2, 2025 10:23 am Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District reported Friday it’s seeing an uptick in escaped debris burn…

64-acre prescribed burn conducted south of Sisters

April 29, 2025 3:20 pm Barney Lerten

Firefighters with the Sisters Ranger District ignited 64 acres in a prescribed fire Wednesday on Sisters Area Fuels Reduction Unit 4 four miles south…

False alarms: 9-1-1 tech ‘glitches’ led to a pair of untrue warnings of a fire at Bend’s new Costco

April 30, 2025 7:19 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon users of a popular website and smartphone app to track the latest fires, crashes and other emergencies were…

In Darlene 3’s wake, campfires banned on BLM lands in the La Pine area to curb danger of human-caused wildfires

April 29, 2025 5:52 pm Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — “To enhance public safety and reduce the risk of wildfires,” the Bureau of Land Management said Tuesday it’s…

Bend resident’s bid to scare off rock chucks with a smoke bomb under the house sparked a fire instead

April 28, 2025 7:37 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend homeowner’s attempt to use a smoke bomb to drive rock chucks out from under his house didn’t go too well Wednesday…

Ochoco National Forest McKay Burn 2 prescribed fire

Ochoco National Forest starting prescribed burns, hazardous fuels reduction work this week

April 28, 2025 11:46 am Barney Lerten

With favorable weather conditions in place, the Ochoco National Forest Monday it is beginning this year’s prescribed fire operations this week on…

Smokey Bear Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires

May is Wildfire Awareness Month: Keep Oregon Green, first responders offer reminders of ways to reduce the risk

April 28, 2025 11:16 am Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – May is Wildfire Awareness Month. Oregon experiences its heaviest wildfire activity during the summer months, but fires can…

Shifting Seasons: Wildfire activity and our warming world

April 25, 2025 12:46 am John Carroll

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Last year was a record year for wildfires in Oregon, as 1.93 million acres were burned, surpassing the old record of 1.2 million…

450-acre prescribed burn puts up tall smoke west of Bend; part of trail and road to be closed for several days

April 23, 2025 6:18 pm Barney Lerten

Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District firefighters conducted up to 450 acres of prescribed burning Thursday about three miles west of Bend, near Forest…

84-acre prescribed burn conducted south of Sisters

April 23, 2025 6:50 pm Barney Lerten

Sisters Ranger District firefighters on Thursday conducted 84 acres of prescribed burning three miles south of Sisters along Forest Service Road 16,…

A 19-year-old man faces arson charges for New Jersey wildfire, officials say

April 23, 2025 6:49 am CNN Newsource

CNN By Taylor Romine, Taylor Ward, Mary Gilbert and Dakin Andone, CNN (CNN) — A 19-year-old man has been arrested on arson charges in…

Alert employees catch fire early at downtown Bend bike-ski shop housed in historic ‘Old Stone Church’

April 23, 2025 12:28 pm Barney Lerten

Thanks to alert employees, a fire was kept fairly small and quickly stopped Wednesday morning in a downtown Bend bike and ski shop housed in a more…

173-acre prescribed burn conducted five miles northeast of La Pine

April 22, 2025 7:06 pm Barney Lerten

Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District firefighters were conducting up to 173 acres of prescribed burning Wednesday about five miles northeast of La Pine,…

Forest Service hiring Pacific Northwest firefighters for upcoming wildfire season

April 22, 2025 3:03 pm Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Pacific Northwest Region of the USDA Forest Service is hiring permanent wildland firefighters for the 2025 fire year…

169-acre prescribed burn conducted northeast of La Pine; smoke may impact area, Highway 97

April 21, 2025 2:15 pm Barney Lerten

Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District firefighters were conducting up to 169 acres of prescribed burning Tuesday about five miles northeast of La Pine, near…